Air-lift pump.



L. T. EDWARDS.

AIR LIFT PUMP.

APPLICATION min DE ;.22,1916.

Patented Aug. 20, 191&

LEVI T. EDWARDS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV.

AIBf-LIFT PUMP.

i ravenna.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Philadelphia., in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Air-Lift Pump, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air-lift pumps of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 18,444 tiled April 1, 1915, and relates more particularly to the construction of the delivery or eduction pipe and its adjuncts. An object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the frictional losses incident to the movement of a column of water through the eduction pipe and thereby secure an increased output of water per cubic foot of air supplied to the well. A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting and maintaining the eduction pipe in operative position in such a manner that it is not subject to the vibration transmitted to the tank by the discharged water. A still further object of the invention is to provide an eduction pipe of wood or the like formed in sections and each section in turn being composed of a plurality of parts arranged in definite relation and all of said sections and parts being bound together to form a complete unitary pipe having a tapered interior channel.

Another object is to provide an eduction pipe having an exterior retaining means for its walls which is so arranged and constructed as to confine a break in said means to a limited position in the length of the pipe.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven- 'tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 represents an elevation partly in section of an air lift pump embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of one of the eduction pipe sections on a. larger scale.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-8 of Fig. 2. l

' Specification of Letters Iatent.v Patented ug. 20, QQ

Application led December 22, 191'6. Serial No. 138,329.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation of the air supply nozzle and itsy adjuncts.

Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

.l designates the well in which the air lift of my invention is adapted to be installed and while here shown as a pipe, it may of course be of any suitable construction adapted to pass through the earth wall 2 with its lower end positioned in operative relation to the water chamber or water bearing stratum. 3 designates the delivery or eduction pipe of the pump which is adapted to pass within the well l, where it terminates in a foot piece or inlet section 4 at its lower end, which is properly submerged in the well water or water stratum.

Located adjacent the eduction pipe 3 is 'the supply pipe 5 for air which also areferably extends within the well and conc ucts air from a compressor (not shown) to the discharge member 6. The discharge inember 6 while lforming a continuation of the air supply pipe 5 is preferably supported from the eduction pipe 3 and carries at its lower end a nozzle 7 which is preferably disposed in substantial alinement with the longitudinal axis of the said eduction pipe 3. The nozzle 7 is preferably tubular in form being open at both ends and receiving air from a lateral channel 8 which has of course communication with the air supply pipe 5. The lower end of the nozzle pipe is open to form an inlet 9 the circumferential edges of which are beveled to provide a relatively sharp edge for the purpose of reducing the friction of the'water drawn up and through the nozzle pipe by the action of the compressed air. It will also be noted that the neck part l0 which connects the nozzle to the discharge end of the supply pipe is oppositely tapered forming a \substantially V-shaped portion 11 at each side, so that the moving body of water has a comparatively unobstructed flow.

l2 designates a mixing tube here shown as fixed to the discharge member by a relatively thin unobstructing web 13 and positioned in close proximity to the outlet of the nozzle 7 and axially alined with respect thereto so that the ejected air enters at the lower end causing a portion of the water to also be drawn into and through the mixing tube. This tube 12 is preferably tapered from end to end, the larger dimension being adjacent the air nozzle while the smaller dimension is in position to dieclinrge the moving hotly ot iiir und iviiter into the inlet end of the eduetion pipe. lu this eoiineetion`r attention ie directed to the preferred rehiiion :is to the dieiaiiice ot the tuhe l2 troni the Mliution pipe. since l liiii'e tound in priieticc tiuit :i nizitcrizil iiicrezue in elti- Ceiicy is ohtnined hy loezii'ine' the toiiiic :it n point sonic distziiiee rlielouv the inlet ot the looi" pieee l. By this eonetruction the eoluiiin ot unter set in motion lili' the coin hiiied iiction ot the nir. the nozzle und the mixing' tithe hii :i :eiiitiilile unobstructed iireii heloiv the educiion pipe to iuljust itselt' ivith rehitii'el)v simili loma in velocity to the cutriinee to the eduetion pi ie. Thiel menus that cross current# :ind eddiee zire priicti Gullyv elimiinited ilo thin' the column of nioving; iviiter ie directed into the eduction pipe ivith gieiitlv reduced irictioinil loseee. 'l he ring' menihers ll :ire luittihle cliimping ringe; Secured to the zur pipe und chuiiped to the educiion pipe El ivlierehii the lutter iet eupported :ind niiiintnined in 'operntive position.

Lhe` eduetion pipe ot mi' present invention is preferably ot wooden conStruction throughout its length iind formell ot Seetionsenrrene'ed in end to end nhuttinf relation to provide :in interior Continuousl unobstructed Channel. One section ot this pipe is Shown in enliiiged detail Fig. 2 und it. will he noted that it iS of etiive Construction as indicated tit l5. the, Suid Stores being zirnng'ed longitudiinillv und Suitiihljv yiointed edge to edge to provide :i tapering|` clniimel for the pneszigpre of the u'iiter. ln the present intiineeT the pipe sectione :ire suhstnntinllv twelve teet. in lengthA` the top opening ot the channel heine iipproxiintitoli'Y oneeieghth of iin inch larger in diameter tlnin the loiver inlet opening So that the conihined taper troni the bottom to trie top ot the eduction pipe 'is eutlieient to produce a negative acceleration ot the moving` column ot ivnter. @t Gouwe it wvvill he underotood that the foregoing liguree ot length and diameter nre subject to vnriiition `without departing troni the spirit or scope ot my invention end tlievY tire merel)v set forth ne satisfactory details ot construction. rthe stoves l5 tire preferably ot n u'idth substantiiillv efpnil to the radine ot the pipe :ind hence si); arranged edge to edge` jointed und suitably clamped multe up one oi" the ection A ln order lo hold the reeiieetii'e @ectionl in proper jointed und leali proot condition. l lieve found it desiriihle to Wind the eduetion pipe throughout its length 1with Suitiihle ivire lt or the like. the seid Winding; heine substantially ot Spiriti torin efreepty nt eertnin spiieed intervalo Where the u'ire is ivound in abutting relation iis shown tit li" and the grouped Wires then soldered as zit lil. This Serves its :in emergency Seite `guard in ene imir ton nl the Spiral Wire hre-tilts, since the loose ivire, ie thu#y eonlined to n short Section ot' the pipe und the eniire winding;f is not prevented from portoriningT itsI proper hiiiding function. ln connection ivitli the Support ot the eduction pipe, ity ivill he noted'tlnit :i coupliugltl eonncets the meeting ende ot the nir pipe ivhere it projects4 trom the uell und thin coupling' :n`- ranged to eezit on the iinuuhir plate 2O ivhich renupou und ie Supported hy the vvell l. This pliitc Lil also forms :i eiipport tor the. rodsil ivhich join Vthe hottom 22 ot the receivinnl tiuili 23 to nniintiiin the latter in op eriitive position. rllier hottpni Q2 ie preterii'nli' provided with fin opening4 il of' liirQer diiinieter thun the cdiietioii pipe tl, tliroiijh which 'the hitter passes to heure` its dischiugg'e outlet well ivithintlie Suid tunli ond Since the eziiid pipe t5 is out ot eonli'iet with the tiinlc, it is not @injected to nin; i'ilniitior-.-l

or jure triinsinitted to the tiinl; hf. the dis Charging" 'nier Thie iS nn importent te ture for the reason that the. iveieht ot' the tank and its contents is consideruhle und the Sinne would phicecsueh stieees upon the eduetion pipe ns to enuse n'enlieninp; ot the joints nud leiilinjne. To prerent outlloiv oi ivziter through the opening 22h l preternhlj.7 provide :i Shield .25 oi"- prepiired liinvtis or some like tiexihle inriteriiil iinperviouey to witter which chunped to the. pipe il und joins the hottoni ot the tnnlf. nhout the openine thusk not onliY eenling the opening hut lili-o Sei-vine' to ruhe up und destroy vihru tion lietore it is; transmitted to the pipe tnv ivell knoivn tlvpe ot uinhrelln detieetor Q6 nni v he employed nhove the di` ehiire'e ot the pipe. il :is vvill he understood.

ln the operation ot the pump the eduction pipe is positioned within the Tnell l und is, ot courgeN suiiieientlylone to extend ii suite nhle depth heloiv the level ot the Water in the well so that the t'oot piece or inlet tion l. together with the nozzle 'l' and its ndjuncts tire located et the moet. etteetive Suhinerzg'enee tor liftingl the unter. The gravity tlovv ol the weiter nnturiillv ciuise itV to rise Within the ivcll l to the level, ot the Surrounding iviiter while the iidmi 1ion ot the eonipiesed nir through the nozzle strut ture henenth the column of vvziter eontiiined ivithin the eduetion pipe einiges the sind coliiinn to he eet in motion :ind diecliarged into the tzinlq The action suheliintiiilly cont-iniione und in Vievv of the tentures ot nifl' invention the trietioniil lowes heretotore so detrimental to the etiieienev ot nir lifts ere materially reduced So that the ipiiintitjiv of n'ziter discharged is innxiniuin iis Compared to the quantityT ot nir supplied.

tn Connection with the niixine tithe 1Q, ittrill he noted that the upper or discharge end is eenSiidernhl;y helen' the inletI Section il so that a` reletivelgfv tree aree is provided belen the mouth of the eduction pipe, whereby the moving bod-y of water both from the well and tube l2 are able to combine in the direction of motion toward the eduction pipe inlet without causing losses due to cross currents and eddies. It will further be noted that the nozzle 7 is formed as an open ended tube which receives the air at an intermediate point and consequently there is a direct suction through the nozzle and the relatively smaller column of water rushing through not only adds to the effectiveness of the lift but maintains the nozzle free from sediment, dirt or the like which is a frequent source of clogging in the usual type of nozzle.

In practice, I have found that the provision of an eduction pipe having wood as a bounding wall for the water conduit aifects a considerable saving in friction with an increase of at least ten per cent. the pumping ethciency. Eurthermore, :It `lll be seen that the eduction pipe se-rves merely as a medium to convey the water to the tank and forms no support for the tank or its adjuncts. The only connection between the tank. and eduction pipe is of a flexible nonvibrating character and consequently the pipe is subjected to little strain.

What I claim is:

l. In an air lift pump, an eduction pipe having the bounding wall ot its bore formed of wood, said wall being uniformly tapered to provide a bore gradually increasing in cross-sectional area from the inlet end to the outlet end of said pipe.

2. In an air litt pump, an eduction pipe formed ot wooden sections, said sections being arranged end to end and each having a bore tapered relatively to the adjacent sections to form in assembled condition a. single continuous uniformly upwardly diverging tapered bore and means to maintain said sections in assembled condition.

3. In an air lift pump, an eduction pipe formed of wooden sections. said sections being arranged end to end and each having a bore tapered relatively to the adjacent sections to form in assembled conditions a single continuous uniformly upwardly divcrging tapered bore and a binding member wrapped in substantially spiral form about said pipe.

4. In an air litt. pump, and eduction pipe formed of wooden sections, each section comprising a plurality otlongitudinally disposed stares united in edge to edge relation and forming a gradually taperingr upwardly di verging bore, and a biluling member spirally wound about all of said sections.

In an air lit't pump the combination of a receiving tank for the discharged water, an eduction pipe supported out of contact with said tank and a flexible vibration absorbing means between said tank and pipe.

6. In an air lift pump, the combination of a receiving tank for the discharged water having an opening therein, an eduction pipe passing through said opening and out of contact with the walls of said opening, a shield of flexible impervious material connecting said pipe with the tank and independent means for respectively supporting said pipe and tank.

7 In an air lift pump, the combination of a well, a receiving tank for the discharged water having an opening therein, an eduction pipe passing through said opening and out of contact with said tank, a shield of flexible impervious material connecting said pipe with the tank, means to support. said tank from said well, an air supply pipe extending into said well and means carried by the air supply pipe for supporting said eduction pipe.

8. In an air lift pump, the combination of a well, an eduction pipe extending into sailV well and having a submerged inlet, an air supply pipe, a nozzle for said air pipe consisting of a tubular open ended member provided with an air inlet intermediate its ends and a mixing tube interposed between the outlet of said nozzle and the inlet of said eduction pi ie, said mixing tube being located entirely below the eduction pipe inlet.

9. In an air litt pump, the combination of a well, an eduction pipe extending into said well and having a submerged inlet, an air supply pipe terminating in a tubular open ended nozzle, said nozzle being located to one side of the air pipe and alined with the eduction pipe and also provided with a laterally disposed channel communicating with the air supply pipe and a mixing tube having an upwardly converging conduit disposed between the outlet of said nozzle and the inlet of said eduction pipe, said mixing tube being located entirely below the eduction pipe inlet.

10. In an air lift pump, the combination of a well, an eduction pipe having the bounding wall of its bore formed of wood and provided with an inlet section terminating in a submerged unobstructed inlet, a nozzle arranged to discharge air under pressure into said eduction pipe. said nozzle being spaced an appreciable distancebelow said foot piece to eliminate cross currents and eddies and means to supply compressed air to said nozzle.

In testimony whereoi` I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of a witness.

LEVI T. EDARDS. lllitness:

ROBERT M. BARR. 

